Milling machine



F. KLOPP ETAL MILLING MACHINE July 9, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 8, 1961 July 9, 1963 Filed May 8, 1961 F. KLOPP ETAL MILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 9, 1963 F. KLOPP ETAL 3,096,687

MILLING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .7N VENTURE` A fro/z ne yr United States Patent O 3,096,687 MILLING MACHINE Friedrich Klopp, Friedrich Klapp, Jr., and Friedhelm Lessenich, all of Solingen-Wald, Germany, assignors to Klapp-Werke Gmini-I., Solingen-Wald, Germany Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 198,611

Claims priority, application Germany May 10, 1960 The invention relates to milling machines and in particular relates to such machines as are suitable both for horizontal and vertical milling.

Vertical milling on a horizontal milling machine is known and is made possible by fitting a vertical milling head to the column of the machine, such vertical milling head being disposed on a centre piece concentric with the milling spindle, so that the end of the milling spindle is drivingly connected to the additional head.

The tting of the additional head is difficult and time consuming and, due to its appreciable weight, the head requires to be handled by more than one person.

A further disadvantage lies in the fact that when the additional head is fitted the distance between the work table and tool is very small and frequently the extent of vertical adjustment of the table is insuflicient `for the machine to be applied to the working of bulky pieces.

Itis |among the objects of the present invention to avoid, at least in part, the aforesaid disadvantages and to provide a milling machine that can be set up with full capacity for vertical as well as horizontal milling. On the machine constructed in accordance with the invention the adjustment from vertical to horizontal milling, and vice versa, may easily and quickly be effected by a single operative and the alte-ration can, if so desired, be made without removing a work piece already in position upon the work table. In this manner the Working is made easier and the degree of accuracy increased.

A further advantage lies in the fact that the r.p.m. of the vertical milling spindle is considerably lincreased relative to the horizontal milling spindle so that the cutting speed 4of the tool can be set between narrower limits than is possible `for horizontal milling.

Thus according to the present invention the arm arranged on the machine column and which carries the support bearings `of the cutter arbor in a normal horizontal milling machine is replaced by a mechanism driven by the horizontal milling spindle, said mechanism driving a vertical milling head swivel mounted lfor motion about an axis lying parallel to the horizontal milling spindle, said head carrying support bearings for the cutter arbor for horizontal milling.

By virtue of this arrangement there is adequate working room between the work table and the -tool fastened to the vertical milling head for milling bulky workpieces.

In order to change over from vertical to horizontal milling it is necessary only to swivel the milling head in such a way that the support bearings fastened thereto are aligned with the horizontal milling spindle, whereupon the milling arbor with lthe tool is placed in the support bea-rings and can be connected with the horizontal milling spindle.

An advantageous embodiment of the subject matter of the invention provides that the mechanism has a housing in which is carried :a driving shaft for 'the milling head lying parallel to the horizontal milling spindle, said driving shaft being driven by the horizontal milling spindle over a step change drive with an idling position. By means of such an arrangement it is possible, at least, to double the rpm. of the vertical spindle relative to the horizontal spindle or, alternatively, to disconnect the drive as during horizontal milling.

In another embodiment of the invention the mechanism 3,096,687 Patented July 9, 1963 ICC 2 housing has a round flange, concentric `with lthe driving shaft, which is provided with -a reception boring suitable for centering the vertical milling head as well -as means of securing the same.

In this connection the means for securing the vertical milling head consists of several set screws which protrude through holes provided in the flange of the mechanism housing and grip with four sided head-s in an annular T shaped groove provided in the milling head concentric with the driving shaft.

In further embodiment the invention provides that the ver-tical milling spindle is driven by a pair of bevel gears and is carried in an axially moveable spindle or tail stock `sleeve so that height adjustment of the milling tool can be obtained in a manner known per se. p

It is expedient for the -spindle sleeve guide to have an axial channel therein which receives a set screw thereby t-o hold said guide as a clamp onto the sleeve.

The invention further provides that the milling head has a dovetail guide on which the support bearings for the horizontal milling mandrel can be Iadjusted and secured in known manner.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one particular embodiment thereof and in which:

FIG. 1, a vertical longitudinal section through the upper part of a horizon-tal and vertical milling machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the milling machine in the position for horizontal milling;

FIG. 3, la section on line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a part section ton line -IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a part section on line V-V of FIG. l.

Referring now to the drawings a conventional horizontal milling machine 1 has the arm carrying the support bearings y2. for the cutting arbor 3 removed and replaced by the vertical and horizontal milling apparatus according to the invention and denoted as a whole by reference numeral 4.

The vertical and horizontal milling apparatus consists of a mechanism `6 firmly arranged on machine column 5 and a swivelling `and securable milling head 7 attached thereto.

First of all the mechanism 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Wit-hin housing 8 firmly att-ached to the machine column -5 by means of screws 9V is `a drive shaft 11 carried in ball bearings 1-2 and 13 lying parallel to the horizontal milling spindle 10.

The driving shaft 11 is drivingly connected with the horizontal milling spindle 1t) through two gear wheels 14 and 15 having different numbers of teeth. 'Ihe gear Wheels `14 `and `15 mesh with intermediate or idler gear wheels 16 and 17 which revolve freely on pegs 19 and 20 carried in bearing block 18.

The bearing block 18 is fastened on machine column 5 and projects linto the mechanism housing r8, the underside of said housing being open.

Two gear wheels 22 and 23 keyed to the shaft 11 as at 21 for `axial motion relative thereto and are lirmly connected one with the other by their hubs 24 and 25.

The distance between gear wheels 22 and 23 is such that they are, when in a middle position, out of mesh with intermediate or idler gear wheels 16 and 17.

By movement, the i'irmly connected gear wheels 22 and 23 can be meshed, either gear wheel 22 with intermediate gear wheel 16, or gear wheel 23 with intermediate gear Wheel 17.

In view of the somewhat unlimited possible variation of speed ratio between the gear Wheels 14 and 15 on horizontal milling spindle 10 -and the gear wheels 22 and 23 on driving shaft l1.1,"thelatter can be driven with twice as many velocity stages as the horizontal milling spindle 10.

In general six velocity stages are provided for the horizontali'milling spindle v10 so Athat thedriving shaft can be` driven .with twelve velocity stages.

For-switching themoveable gearwheels 22 and.23 on driving shaft 1l, an annular groove 26 is providedin the hub 25 of gear wheel v23, with which, as it is :tot be seen in1FIG.,3, `switchingblock 27 engages, and which is .rotatably carried on a peg 2S at the free end of switch arm 29. The -switch arm 29 is firmly fastened on apeg 31 rotatably'mountejd in the side `wall 30 of the housing 8, said peg carrying, outwardly of the housing 8 a switch lever 32. -It lis obvious-that luy-swivelling the lever -32 one orl other gear wheel 22 or 23 will, according to choice, be out of engagement.

The frontendof the mechanism housing Sis provided with an outwardly directed annular flange 33,'said flange 33 being concentric with-the driving shaft 1i, thebore 34 of-sa'id flange 33 receiving in-rotatable manner a projection 35 of the milling head 7.

The milling head 7 lies withan end surface 136 in abutment with the face 37 of .the flange 33. -In the end surface 36 of -milling head 7 an annular T groove 38 is provided, whilst in flange 33 of mechanism housing 8 several evenly spaced holes 39 for set screws 4f) are provided, which set `screwshave vfour sided heads 41 arranged in the Tgroove 3S-of milling-head 7.

A scale of degrees is marked on the circumference of 'ilangeg33-on'mechanism housings, whilst a setting mark is provided on the circumference of a part 43 of milling head 7 which lies against flange 33.

By this means the milling head 7, which is to be more particularly described hereafter, can be swivelled and secured in any-desired angular position.

The milling head'7 comprises housing 44 carrying, in bearings v4f7 and 48, two interengaged bevel gears 45, 46 saidbevel gears l45, `46 being mounted yfor rotation about two-mutually perpendicular axes.

The bevel gear wheel 45 is carried in bearing-47, which lies concentric -with central projection 35, having its hub in the two ball bearings 50 and 5-1. The two annular nuts 61 screwed on the `end of Ibevel gear hub 49 serve 'to set'the axialbearing play.

Driving shaft 11 engages the bore 52of'hub 49 is keyed -to such'bore 4by means of element Y'53.

The 'bevel gear wheel 46 iscarried by its hub 54 inthe vtwo lball bearings 55 land -56 arranged Vin Va bush 57 set in bore A48 and covered by Ibearing cap 5S. The caprSS 'together with bearing bush 57 -is secured to milling head 'housing :44 by means of screws 59. For setting -the axial bearing vplay two lock nuts l60 are screwed on vthe end of bevelgear hub 54.

The top end of vertical milling spindle 62 engages the through Abore 63 of bevel gear 46, said spindle '62 being keyed to said lbore '63 by element 64.

The lower end of vertical milling spindle 62 is carried in a spindle or tail stock sleeve 65, which is arranged in boring y48 (see FIG. 5), said sleeve `65 being axially moveable relative to the boring 48 but being prevented from rotating therein by the shank 67 of a bolt 68engaging a through hole A65. The bearing is provided by an adjustable double roller bearing .69 and two ball bearing assemblies 76 and 71 held in the lower end of spindle sleeve.65 by bearing cap 72 through which the vertical milling spindle 62 passes.

The two Vnuts 73 abutting the upper bearing 71 serve .to adjust Ithe axial bearing play of vertical milling spindle62.

The spindle `or tail stock sleeve 65 having the vertical milling spindle 62 associated therewith can be moved in the direction of arrow 74. The spindle orl tail stock sleeve 65 has Vfor this purpose, projecting radially of its circumference, a rack 75, said rack 75 being engaged by 4 a pinion 77 mounted on shaft 76 carried by the housing 44.

There is further fastened on pinion shaft 76 a worm wheel 78 which meshes with a worm 79 carried in housing 44.

The end of shaft Sil carrying Worm 79 protrudes out of housing 44 and a hand wheelSl is affixed thereto.

By turning the hand wheel the spindle or tail stock sleeve 65 can be moved up and down. The spindle or tail stock sleeve 65 has a recess 82 to receive the bevel wheel 45.

To secure the spindle or tail stock sleeve 65 in the height chosen from time to time, the under-side of housing 44 has a slot 83 which can be closed in a manner --known per se, by setscrew 84,.onto bore 48 whichpasses :through the whole housing, as is to be seen in FIG. 2.

It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the side face of housing 44- which lies parallel to the axis of the vertical millingspindle 62 and the driving shaft 11, is provided with a dovetail guide which serves as an adjustable Ireceiver for support bearings `2 of the horizontal milling .mandreL To set milling head 7 in the suitable position for verticaimilling, after removal of the horizontal milling mandrel, it is simply necessaryto loosen nut 42 of set screw 40, whereupon t'ne milling head 7 can be set in the desired position in which it is then secured by tightening up nut `42.

The invention produces for the first time a milling machine which as a high quality machine can be changed by easily Workedhandles, for Vertical as well as horizontal milling.

The invention is by no means to be confined to the em- .bodiment hereinbefore described as alterations will read- .ily present themselves to one skilled in the art.

Such alterations could -for example arise if a horizontal milling machine of any construction is to be filled with the -horizontal-vertical-rnilling apparatus according tothe-invention.

What we claim is:

l. A milling machine having in combination a Vhorizontal shaft, a milling head swivelly mounted thereon,

'said -milling head comprising a horizontal cutter arbor and a -milling spindle, said cutter arbor extendingparallel to said shaft, the axis of said milling spindle and the `axis of said shaft lying in a firstplane, the axis of said cutter arbor and `the axis yof said shaft lying in a second .planeextending normal to said 'first piane, meansfor selectively securing 'the milling head in its swivel position, transmission means for `transmission of a -d-niving force including a transmission spindle extending Aparallel to said arbor, vfirst and second gearing, said cutter arbor being movable, by swivelling said milling head, into alignment with said transmission spindle and eonneotable thereto fordriving purposes, and selective means for drivably connecting Isaid first and second gearing, said second ygearing beingdrivably connected to said milling spindle.

.2. A `milling machine having in combination a horizontal first shaft, a milling head swivelly mounted thereon, said milling head comprising a horizontal cutter arbor and a milling spindle, said lcutter arbor extending parallel :to said first shaft, the axis of said milling spindle and :the axis .of said first shaft lying .in a first plane, the axis of said cutter arbor and the axis of said first shaft 'ly-ing in a second .plane extending normal to said first plane, means for selectively securing Ithe mill-ing head in its swivel position, `'transmission.means for transmission of Ia driving force including a transmission .spindle extending parallel to said arbor, rst and second gearing, said first `gearing comprising two different sized Igears mounted in :a spaced rel-ation on said transmission spindle and being driven thereby,said second gearing comprising two different sized -gearsrnounted on said second shaft for-notation ltherewith but being axially shiftable thereon, said cutter arbor being movable, by swivelling said milling head, into aiig-nment with said transmission spindle .and conneotable thereto for dniving purposes, and means for selectively bringing one of the shiftable gears of the second gearing into mesh with a respective gear of the first gearing, said second gearing being dnivably connected to said milling spindle.

3. A milling machine according to claim 2 in which said second gearing is located in a `housing which has a circular ilange concentric with the first and the second shaft, the rst sha-ft having a through bore which forms a bearing for the second shaft, the milling head having a circular flange complementary to said iirst lflange, one of the anges having an annular T-shaped groove which is concentric with said shafts and which is engaged by set screws projecting through holes in the other one of said ilanges.

4. A milling machine having in combination la horizontal shaft, a milling head swivelly mounted thereon, said milling head comprising a horizontal cutter anbor and a milling spindle, said cutter arbor extending parallel to said shat, the axis of said milling spindle and the axis of said shaft lying in a lirst plane, the axis of said cut-ter arbor and the axis of said shaft lying in a second plane extending normal to said Erst plane, means for selectively securing the milling head in its swivel position, transmission means for transmission of a driving force including a tnansmission spindle extending parallel to said arbor, first and a second gearing, said cutter arbor being movable, by swivelling said milling head, into alignment with said transmission spindle and connectable thereto for driving purposes, 'and selective means for drivably connecting said iirst and said second gearing, said second gearing being drivably connected by means of 'a pair of bevel gears to said mil-ling spindle, the milling spindle being carried in a spindle sleeve adapted for axial movement.

5. A milling machine according to claim 4, further provided with guide means tor said spindle sleeve having an axially extending slot, and a set screw for securing said spindle sleeve within said guide means fby closing said slot.

`6. A milling machine having in combination a horizontal shaft, a milling head -swivelly mounted thereon, said milling head comprising a horizontal cutter arbor and a milling spindle, said cutter arbor extending parallel to said shaft, the axis of said milling spindle and the axis of said shaft lying in a `first plane, the axis of said cutter arbor and the axis of said shaft lying in a second plane extending normal to said hrst pla-ne, means for selectively securing Ithe milling head in its swivel position, transmission means for transmission of a driving -force including a spindle extending panallel to said arbor, `first and second gearing, said cutter arbor being carried by supporting bearings which are axially movable in a dovetail guide, said cutter arbor being movable, by swivelling said milling head, into alignment with said transmission spindle and connectable thereto for driving purposes, and selective means `for drivably connecting said t-rst and said second gear-ing, said second gearing being drivably connected -to said milling spindle.

7` A milling machine having 4in ycombination a supporting structure forming a housing with la front face and a top side, transmission means for tnansmitting a driving force `comprising a horizontal spindle extending perpendicular to said front face, said transmission means being supported in said supponting structure, la gearing box containing gearing and having a bottom and a plane front face, the bottom being positioned on the :top side of said supporting structure which thereby supports the gearing box, .a milling head supported at the front -face oi said gearing box and rotatably adjustable `about a swivel axis extending parallel to said spindle and perpendicular to said plane front face, means for securing said milling head in its rotational position, a horizontal cntter arbor supported parallel to said spindle on said milling head, a milling spindle extending through said milling head, means for selectively connecting -said transmission means and said gearing, the latter being drivably connected with said lmilling spindle, the cutter arbor being connectable, for the .transmission of a driving Aforce thereto, to said spindle by Iadjusting the milling head, said swivel axis and the axis of said milling spindle both lying in a iirst plane, said swivel axis and the axis of said cntter arbor lying in a second plane extending normal to said rst plane.

8. A milling machine according to claim 7 in which the plane front face of said gearing box is a circular ilange engaged by a complementary plane circular ilange on the rear side of the milling head.

9. A milling machine according to claim 7 in which the milling head is secured in its rotational position by means of screws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,313 Bla-isdell l-an. 28, 1873 2,242,445 Armitage May 20, l1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,511 Sweden Feb. 14, 1933 433,927 France lan. ,19, 1912 871,510 France Apr. 29, 1942 

1. A MILLING MACHINE HAVING IN COMBINATION A HORIZONTAL SHAFT, A MILLING HEAD SWIVELLY MOUNTED THEREON, SAID MILLING HEAD COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL CUTTER ARBOR AND A MILLING SPINDLE, SAID CUTTER ARBOR EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT, THE AXIS OF SAID MILLING SPINDLE AND THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT LYING IN A FIRST PLANE, THE AXIS OF SAID CUTTER ARBOR AND THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT LYING IN A SECOND PLANE EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PLANE, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SECURING THE MILLING HEAD IN ITS SWIVEL POSITION, TRANSMISSION MEANS FOR TRANSMISSION OF A DRIVING FORCE INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION SPINDLE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID ARBOR, FIRST AND SECOND GEARING, SAID CUTTER ARBOR BEING MOVABLE, BY SWIVELLING SAID MILLING HEAD, INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID TRANSMISSION SPINDLE AND CONNECTABLE THERETO FOR DRIVING PURPOSES, AND SELECTIVE MEANS FOR DRIV- 